Outboard motor



Sept. 11., 1928. 1,683,893

F. T IRGENS OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Dec.14, 1925 2 Sheet-s $heet 1 IN VE'N TOR.

Sept. 11, 1928.

F. T. IRGENS OUTBOARD MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1925 INVENTOR J7 Z. 96 12 A TTORNE Y5 Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,683,893 PATENT OFFICE.

FINN T. IRGENS. OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO LOCKWOOD ASH MOTOR 00., OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

OUTBOARD MOTOR.

This invention relates to outboard motors which are ordinarily portable and adapted to be attached to the stern or transom of a boat or other water craft for pro elling and guiding the boat in a desire direction. Such a marine motor ordinarily includes an internal combustion engine and its necessary accessories, the engine being "arranged so that its crank shaft or an extension thereof may extend downwardly into a gear housing for driving a propeller. The gear housing usually includes a propeller guard and rudder, and the entire structure is mounted relative to a boat so that it may be ad uSted. In some instances a slip clutch is located in the gear housing to disconnect the propeller relath'e to its driving means when an obstruction is encountered, and in other 1nstances the entire structure is pivotally mounted so that the submerged end of the structure may yield and swing rearwardly when encountering an obstacle. Again, such marine motors are ordinarily supported so that the engine driven propeller may be swung by a tiller for steering purposes.

In the above type of outboard motor I have made the'following improvements.

First, I use a compact, durable and simple form of differential mechanism and clutch by which the operation of the propeller may be reversed, so that a boat may be backed. If the outboard motor is of that type where the submerged I end thereof may yield or swing rearwardly, it is necessary that means be provided for holding the submerged end of the motor so that it cannot yield under a reverse operating condition of the propeller.

Second, I provide novel means 1n connection with the tiller of the outboard motor for simultaneously operating the clutch for reverse drive and fix' the submerged end of,

the motor against-yielding because of such drive.

Third, my outboard motor includes certain refinements that will appear as the improvements are herein described by aid of the drawin s, wherein Figure 1 1s a side elevation of the outboard motor, partly in section; v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of a portion of the outboard motor:

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line III+III of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes a vertically disposed sleeve bearing which is provided with apertured ears 2 pivotally connected, as at 3, to a clamping bracket 4 ada ted to be attached to the stern of a boat in he usual and well known manner.

Rotatable in the sleeve bearing 1 and supported thereby is a vertically dis osed casmg 5 having its lower end provi ed with 'a gear housing 6 :lrom which is supported a driven propeller 7, a propeller guard 8, and a rudder 9, all of a conventional type and formlng no part of this invention other than contributing to a complete outboard motor. The upper end of the casing 5 is stepped so as to provide a spring chamber 10, a clutch chamber 11, and a differential chamber 12. On the upper end of the casing 5 and closing the differential chamber 12 is a cap or end plate 13 that may form part of an internal combustion engine 14 having the usual accessories or auxiliary parts to provide a complete power plant. In the cap or end plate is a bearing and bushing 15 for a crank shaft 16 of the engine 14, and journaled in the end of the crank shaft and co-extensive thereof 1s a propeller driving shaft 17 disposed axigear housing 6 for driving the propeller 7.

"allyflof'the casing 5 and extending into the Mounted in the spring compartment 10 about the drive shaft 17 is a. coiled expansion spring 18 seated on a retaining part 19 which is coupled to the shaft 17 and engages a wear plate 20 mounted in the compartment 10. The upper convolution of the expansion spring 18 engages a retaining member 21 on which is supported the bottom plate 22 of a hollow conical shaped clutch member 23 forming part of a differential housing 24 in the compartment 12 and extending into the compartment 11 where said clutch member opposes and is surrounded by an outer stationary clutch member 25 detachably seated in the compartment 11 and retained therein by suitable fastening means designated 26. The expansive force of the spring 18 holds the intermediate clutch member 23 out of engagement with the outer clutch member 25 and normally in engagement with a conical shaped inner clutch member 27 having a sleeve portion 64 pinned or keyed to the drive shaft 17.

The inner clutch member 27 is made hollow to receive a differential gear 28 which 17 and meshing with the differential gear shaft and the differential 28 are differential pinions 29 on a spider 30 .through which extends the drive shaft 17.

Another differential gear 31 meshes with the differential pinions 29 and this differential gear is held against longitudinal movement relative to the diflerential pinions 29 and the shaft 17 by a collar 32 suitably fixed to the shaft 17 and seated in a slotted hub portion 33 of the differential gear 31. The slotted hub portion 33 is loose in an end cap 34 of the housing 24 with the hub portion 33- surrounding a slotted extremity of the en gine crank shaft 16, so that a tion may be established between the crank gear 31 by interposed keys or coupling members 35 arranged in the slots of the hub 33 and the crank shaft 16. The casing 5, adjacent the end plate 13, is provided with transversely alining bearings 36 and 37 for an arcuated crank shaft 38 having crank portions 39 provided with anti-frictional rollers'40 engageable with a wear plate 41 mounted on the differential housing cap 34. The crank shaft 38 is substantiall made and has an end thereof provided w1th a rock arm 41 which is keyed or otherwise non-rotatably connected to the crank shaft, as at 42. The arm is preferably hollow and its forward end is bifurcated and provided with a pin anchor, 43 for the hook shaped end 44 of a detachable lever or tiller 45, which may be disconnected. from the arm 41 by swinging the tiller upwardly and disengaging the hook shaped end 44 from the anchor pin 43. Otherwise, the tiller 45 is supported co-extensive of the rock arm 41 .by the confronting ends of the arm and tiller. I

On the sideof the casing 5, adjacent the bearing 36 of the crank shaft 38, is a notched keeper 46 for a latch 47 pivotall mounted, as at 48 on the arm 41 and extending therein, as best shown in Fig. 3. The inner end of the pivoted latch 47 is loosely connected to an' actuating rod 49 slidably'supported b the forward end of the arm 41' and protru ing therefrom," 1 The retractile force of a coded springw50 in the arm 41 is adapted to hold the latch 47 normally in one of the notches of the keeper 46.

The lever or tiller 45 has a handle 51 and opposing said handle and cooperating there with in providing a hand grip is a pivoted bell crank or handlej52 loosely connected to an operating rod 5 3i supported in the tiller 45 in abutting relation with the actuatin rod 49, so that these two rods may be shifted by the handle 52, against the expansive force of a small spring 54 between the handles 51 g and 52 to shift the latch 47 out of engage- -ment with the keeper 46 and permit of the arm 41 being rocked.

driving relaset at a allyconnected, as at 55 to ade ending rod 56 which has its lower end yieldiibly articulated with a fork 57 pivotall supported from the chamber portion 11 of die casing 5. The fork 57 is loosely connected, as at 58 to the sidesof a reciprocable sleeve 59 on the easing 5 and this sleeve is adapted to be shifted to extend over a semi-cylindrical abutment 60, loosely engaging the casin 5. The abutment 60 has side lugs 61 an set screws 62 extending into slotted segments 63 ofthe boat bracket 4, and ;it is by virtue of the set screws62 that the outboard motor may desired angle relative tothe boat bracket. The lugs 61 preventthe abutment 60 from tilting relative to the segments 63 and with the casing 5 loose in the abutment it may swing rearwardly when encountering an obstacle during forward drive of the boat.

In operation the driving relation between the inner clutch member 27 and the inter} mediate clutch member 23 causes the drive shaft 17 to be driven in one direction from the crank shaft 16 of the engine 14 and this direction is for normal straight ahead propelling of a boat equipped with the outboard motor. Should it bev desired to reverse o back the boat, the tiller 45; is lowered to rock the crank shaft 38 and the fork 57. Two adjustments are simultaneousl made. The crank shaft 38 causes the di erential housing 24 to be lowered against the action of the spring 18, thus bringing the intermediate clutch member 23 into engagement with the stationary clutch member 25, whereby the differential housing will be held stationarycausing the differential mechanism to reverse the rotation of the drive shaft 17 Since the propeller 7 will tend to pull the submerged end of the outboard motor away from the boat, as when drawing the boat backwards, it is necessary that the abutment 60 be engaged by the sleeve 59, therefore adjustment of the fork .57 has lowered the sleeve 59 into engagement with the abutment 60 and fix the submerged end of the outboard motor relative to the boat bracket.

As long as the tiller-45 is held depressed there will be a reverse drive and when the tiller is released the expansive force of a spring 65 on the lower end of the rod 56 cooperates with the expansive force of the spring 18 in restoring the parts for forward drive.

My drawings have been copied from working drawings but I would have it understood that the structural elements are susceptible to such variations and modifications as are permissible by the appended claims.

WVhat I claim is 1. In an outboard motor for a boat where- ,in an engine is adapted to drive a propeller by a drive shaft co-extensive of a crank shaftof the engine, and wherein a drive The rear end of the rock arm 41 is pivot-.

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shaft casing is supported from about bracket and adapted to swing rearwardly to avoid an obstacle :-a differential mechanism for constantly meshing gears in said casing, a clutch mechanism operatively arranged relative to said differential mechanism to afford normal forward boat drive for the propeller, and means ada ted to simultaneously change the differentia and clutch mechanism for backward boat drive for the propeller and fix said casing against a rearward swing relative to said boat bracket.

2. In an outboard motor for a boat wherein an engine is adapted to drive a propeller by a drive shaft, co-extensive of a crank shaft of the engine, and wherein a drive shaft casing is supported from a boat bracket and adapted to swing rearwardly to avoid an obstacle ;--a differential and clutch mechanism in said casing arranged to afford normal forward boat drive for the propeller,-

and means adapted to simultaneously change the differential and clutch mechanism for backward boat drive for the propeller and fix said casing against a rearward swing relative to said boat bracket, said means including a tiller actuated reciprocable sleeve on the drive shaft casing.

3. In an outboard motor fora boat wherein an engine is adapted to drive a propeller by a drive shaft, co-extensive of a crank shaft of the engine, and wherein a drive shaft casing is supported from a boat bracket and adapted to swing rearwardly to avoid an obstacle ;a differential and clutch mechanism in said casing arranged to afford normal forward boat drive for the propeller, and means adapted to simultaneously change the differential and clutch mechanism for backward boat drive for the propeller, and fix said casing against a rearward swing relative to said boat bracket, said means including a rock crank shaft adapted to depress a portion of said differential mechanism and shift said clutch.

4. In an outboard motor wherein an engine crank shaft is adapted for driving a propeller drive shaft housed with a turnable casing :-means transmitting power from the engine to the drive shaft, said means including a differential mechanism in said casing adjacent the upper end of said propeller drive shaft, a differential housing shiftable longitudinally of said casing, a clutch mechanism in said casing operatable by said shiftable differential housing for controlling the action of said differential mechanism for transmitting power and means adapted for shifting said differ ntial housing.

5. An outboar motor as called for in claim 4 wherein said means includes a tiller adapted for either turning said casing or depressing said differential housing.

6. Means for transmitting power from an outboard motor to a propeller wherein a propeller drive shaft is co-extensive of the motor shaft, said means comprising 'a differentlal mechanism operatively connecting said motor and propeller shafts, a clutch mechanism having as a shiftable element thereof a part of said differential mechanism, and means adapted for controlling said clutch mechanism. 7. In an outboard motor for a boat wherein an-englne is adapted to drive a propeller by a drive shaft co-extensive of a crank shaft of the engine, and wherein a drive shaft casing is su ported from a boat bracket :means wit 1n said oasin controlling the drivin relation between t e engine crank shaft an the drive shaft, said means including the differential mechanism and clutch mechanism about the drive shaft with the differential mechanism and clutch mechanism arranged for forward drive of the propeller -by the engine, said clutch mechanism including an intermediate clutch member adapted to be ad'usted for holding a differential housing, an means carried by sa1d casing adapted for adjusting the intermediate clutch member.

8. In an outboard motor for a boat wherem an engine is adapted to drive a propeller by a drive shaft oo-extensive of a crank shaft of the engine, and wherein a drive shaft casing is supported from a boat bracket ;--means within said oasin controlling the driving relation between t e engine crank shaft and the drive shaft, said means including the differential mechanism and clutch mechanism about the drive shaft with the differential mechanism and clutch mechanlsm arranged for forward drive of the propeller by the engine, said clutch mechanism including an intermediate clutch member adapte to'be ad'usted for holding a differential housing, an means carried by said oasin adapted for adjusting the intermediate c utch member, sald last mentioned means includin a tiller arm, ada ted to depress the di erential housing an estabshiftable between the first mentioned clutch 'lish a reverse drive between the engine shaft members to afford either forward or reverse drive. i i 10. In an outboard motor having an engine driven propeller supported from a casing braced for forward drive and normally free to swing rearwardly, engine driven power transmission mechanism in said casing for normal forward drive, and means operatable to reverse the drive of the power transmission mechanism and condition said casing for such reverse drive, said means including a stationary clutch member, a drive shaft member, and an intermediate clutch member shiftable between the first mentioned clutch members to afford either forward or reverse drive.

11. Means for transmitting power from an outboard motor to a ropeller, said means comprising a driven differential mechanism having constantly meshing gears, a movable housing for said differential gears adapted to be held for reversing the action of the differential gears, and means adapted for holding said housing. I

12. Means for transmitting power from an outboard motor to a propeller, said means comprising a driven differential mechanism having constantly meshing gears adapted for two actions, a movable housing for said differential gears adapted to be held for changing from one action to the other of the differential gears, and means including a clutch having a part thereof supported by said housing for holding said housing.

13. In an outboard motor mounted to be horizontally turned by a tiller for steering purposes, and freely swung in a vertical plane when encountering an obstacle, and

wherein an engine driven propeller 1s supported from a casing braced for forward drive ;-engine driven power transmission mechanism in said casing for normal for ward drive, and means operatable by the tiller to reverse the drive of the power transmission mechanism and condition said casing for reverse drive, said means includpropeller drive shaft housed with a turnable casmgz-means transmitting power from the engine to the drive shaft, said means including a differential mechanism and clutch member, a differential housing having its lower end normally engaging said clutch member and by longitudinal movement adapted to engage said casing, and rockable means in sai casin engageable with the upp r end of said differential housing ada ibgil to move said housing.

15. n outboard motor as called for in claim 14, wherein said differential and clutch mechanisms are disposed in said casing.

16. An outboard motor as called for in claim 14, wherein said controllin means includes a detachable and depressi le tiller articulated with said sleeve.

17. Means for transmitting power from an outboard motor-to a propeller, said means comprising a driven differential mechanism having constantly meshing gears adapted for forward and reverse actions, a movable housing for said differential gears adapted to be held for a reverse action of the differential gears, a clutch at one end of said housing and having a part thereof supported by said housing, and means at the opposite end of said housing adapted for moving said housing to effect holding thereof by said clutch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FINN T. IRGENS. 

